So, have the Pirates offically moved away from RW?

You threw the card at me, I was only replying.

My last tri was probably the Double IM in 2009. And how does that make me not qualified to express an opinion in your eyes? I still organise events for my club and have definitely been there and done that for all tri distances.

OC - ha ha, none meant at all. I have great respect for your IM performances and sometimes wonder if I too could post those low 10hr times (I follow your results) seeing as I have a habit of catching you up on the Swash run. I'm 1-1 with CD on that course too ! 

KK - folks are drawn to these pirate thread as they want to complete an IM, and the pirates like taking newbies on a journey that gets them off the sofa and on a journey that sees them get really fit and end up able to swim, bike and run some incredible distances. Lots of folks cant even swim well when they start, so their ultimate challenge is to do an IM. So I dont see your perception of there being a longer is better attitude. just lots of folks on a IM journey. Olympic Tris are a different beast and its like comparing apples and oranges anyway. 

If you want to read more about apples and oranges then you need more seriously focused forums like Tri Tlak and Slow Twitch.

Never done an IM myself (more to do with the amount of me time I'm prepared to put in on weekends than anything else) but I dont see myself as lesser than someone who has, and I'm sure that they dont think that I am. 

I still meant that the fast and experienced folks probably post less nowadays as they are busy trying to balance it all, as they train lots !

Schmunkee - The List Fairy wrote (see)

kittenkat wrote (see)

And your IM was...

But then you can't argue with me on that can you, because going long is not the be all and end all.  We should be encouraging shorter and faster and giving them equal support, shouldn't we?

Just saying.....

Ok, fair point, when's your next sprint tri or 10k? I'm really not sure what point you're trying to make. You don't race, that's fine, just admit it rather than trawling round the houses.

But you've tied yourself in knots by saying that this is an IM group *rolls eyes*.

This is a first for me , reading every single comment in a thread!  Is it helpful to add don't fear the change, if indeed there is any real change. We all compete even though most pirates must be completers first and foremost otherwise what has become of the the ethos of not taking tri too seriously. There must be a huge range from National quality age groupers to those dreaming of completing a sprint one day under the pirate flag, and that is the attraction of the ship for me wherever the posts pop up....

Hello, I'm a newbie to the forums here. When I started posting I knew that the general gist was that IM was the thing. That's why the majority post, for advice and support. What it was and what it will be will develop with time. I'm sure many people have met friends and training colleagues. That some have fulfilled their dream and moved on. Clearly some are 'too cool for school' and just don't need the forums anymore. I am no ironman but would love to be. But for now I'm aiming for just competing in triathlon. I have always felt supported and never fallen foul to perceived elitism. The major point I get from the members here is to enjoy myself and try not to take things too seriously... 

Oo and that yellow truly encourages you to get lean!

Well, I am doing sprints, maybe Olys and poss HIM next year. Long distance and I seem unable to successfully connect and that is likely to be permanent now for various reasons.

I'll get a good few races in, I'll have a whale of a time and still spend time with the family. I'll still run the odd bike ride and encourage anyone locally with what knowledge I have at whatever distance they choose. 

If pirates is only about IM then I have a spare Monaco, cycle jacket and cycle top up for grabs, but, however the purists feel, I think it has evolved. I think it will always be about pushing yourself to your personal limit and having a bit of fun at the same time and not taking it TOO seriously.

And as long as you are happy with what you have achieved knowing you have given it the max and not what others think you should achieve, great.

Oh, and bike porn!

Here, here, DB!!

IM for me is about pushing myself to my own limits, I guess for others those limits are shorter and faster - who cares where those limits are?

I love the pirate mentality of having a larf - it takes the heat off when all my off line friends think I'm really amazing, or really stupid or really something for even thinking about IM, and yet here (or on FB)  I feel a bit more normal ...  

I love the craic - the ribbing and reading all the wind ups and the sarky comments, although it looks like there's more of that here than on FB, when you sort of actually 'know' who you're talking to, if you know what I mean.

debbo wrote (see)

KK I think in terms of the tri forum there are threads about all lengths of tri, but in terms of the pirates the focus on IM is inevitable as that's where the pirates started -whether the fact that they are now evolving and embrace all distances is good or bad is personal opinion, but I don't get the IM is best message on here

My personal opinion is pirate kit is for IM and I wouldn't have worn it if I hadnt done IM but I can't stop others wearing it

I think (and I know everyone's opinion varies), that the Pirate IM thing for many is a kind of time slot mechanism, a bit like having a baby (both painful .

But that's a good thing also, I'm very fond of some of the memories I have of Nice, Bala etc...

But Bala isn't an IM and that seems to be until last year a regular race.

Flat Foo..ted wrote (see)

But Bala isn't an IM and that seems to be until last year a regular race.

No-one has ever claimed it was... It was just a Pirate race and social of choice for a time.

I think it was well placed leading into whichever IM the ship was sailing to. Bala still remains my favourite tri (except for the lake).

Great bike and run course.

I wouldn't wear my pirate kit in short distance Tri if I hadn't "earnt" the right to wear it in a IM. But have to admit my focus these days is on Oly's I prefer the cut and thrust of racing flat out and its all over in under 2.5 hours

The pirates are IM focussed but many like myself still race Tri's as Pirates after retiring from the long distance stuff.

kittenkat wrote (see)

debbo wrote (see)

KK I think in terms of the tri forum there are threads about all lengths of tri, but in terms of the pirates the focus on IM is inevitable as that's where the pirates started -whether the fact that they are now evolving and embrace all distances is good or bad is personal opinion, but I don't get the IM is best message on here

My personal opinion is pirate kit is for IM and I wouldn't have worn it if I hadnt done IM but I can't stop others wearing it

I think (and I know everyone's opinion varies), that the Pirate IM thing for many is a kind of time slot mechanism, a bit like having a baby (both painful .

But that's a good thing also, I'm very fond of some of the memories I have of Nice, Bala etc...

but looking at the forums.i feel there are many more pirates that have gone on to do more than 1 IM than those who just do the one and move on......there are loads who have done 5 or more...........

 I appreciate that there will be many like your self that do one  or do tri for a year or two and move onto different goals..........

this is why the pirates work.there is no rules as to what people should or shouldn't do.........what race is better than another..its about encouraging each other to do their best at whatever distance they choose.........but if you want to try IM you will not be alone

I think to do any distance race well you have to work on that distance for a number of years to make the improvements........its easier sometimes just not to repeat the same distance/ race twice as then you might have to face the chance that you might be slower and not faster and for some that is hard to cope with.so some would prefer to do it once and change rather than have to put the hard work in an make improvements

oh the shame, the humiliation, the unworthiness, I have to have earned the right to wear my pirate shirt by doing an IM ?...............I was active on the running threads, had no bike, was a weak swimmer so it seemed the right way for me, still got a crap bike and no schedule so it still seemed right, I just train a bit and do the odd race, but I've done 6 or 7 middle distance races wearing that pirate shirt and no IMs...........what a burden to have to carry, I've brought shame upon myself.

Anyone want a pirate top ?

DD was a personal statement..........but i think that the pirates have evolved so that all are encouraged to either go further or faster than they thought possible what ever the distance

and TR your top is to fast for me.i couldn't catch it